CRIMESTOPPERS AT 713-222-TIPS. A CONTROVERSIAL DECISION BY A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS STUDENTS AND PARENTS TAKING SIDES TONIGHT. THAT DECISION TO SIDE LINE A CHEERLEADER WHO HAS DOWN SYNDROME. THAT 10th GRADER'S TWIN SISTER WAS ALLOWED TO JOIN THE SQUAD AND SHE'S TAKING A STAND IN SUPPORT HER SISTER. JENNIFER BAUER IS JOINING US LIVE IN MANVEL WHERE THE SCHOOL SAYS IT'S DONE ALL IT CAN. RIGHT? Reporter: THE DISTRICT SAYS IT WANTS THE STUDENT TO BE PART OF A TEAM AND TO GET INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, BUT WHAT THE DISTRICT IS OFFERING A AND WHAT THE FAMILY WANTS ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THIS IS A TENTH GRADER AT MANVEL HIGH SCHOOL WHO LOVES TO CHEER. THESE PICTURES ARE FROM LAST YEAR WHEN SHE CHEERED AT THE HOMECOMING GAME FOR FUN. YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S IN HER BLOOD. HER OLDER SISTER, BRITTANY, IS ON THE TEAM AND SO IS HER TWIN SISTER, ALEXIS. THEIR MOM WOULD LIKE ALEXIA TO HAVE A SPOT ON THE TEAM, TOO. THE REASON I WANTED HER IS BECAUSE HER TWIN SISTER IS ALREADY ON THAT SQUAD AND SHE WOULD BE A GREAT SUPPORT TO HER ON THE FIELD. Reporter: SHE TRIED OUT FOR THE TEAM BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT. AS A COMPROMISE, THE ALVIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERED HER A SPOT ON THE JC SQUAD. WE THOUGHT THE JUNIOR VARSITY CHEERLEADING PROGRAM WOULD OFFER A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT YOUNG LADY TO PARTICIPATE AND THAT SHE'LL HAVE THAT SENSE OF PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT THAT WET WANT FOR EVERY STUDENT THAT ATTENDS. Reporter: BUT HER FAMILY DOESN'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. HER TWIN SISTER HAS EVEN DECIDED TO BOYCOTT. THAT'S NOT OKAY. I'M NOT GOING TO CHEER WITH THE TEAM. Reporter: ALVIN ISD SAYS THEY HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT ALEXIA ON THE SIDE LINES DURING A FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME WHERE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE STANDS AND HUNDREDS ON THE FIELD. THE JV GAMES ARE DIFFERENT. THEY SAY IT'S VARSITY OR NOTHING FOR THEIR DAUGHTER AND THEY'RE NOT DONE FIGHTING. WE WANT HER TO GET OUT AND CHEER AND HAVE FUN. Reporter: ALVIN ISD SPOKESPERSON SAYS THEY'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FAMILY AND BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH AN ANSWER. LIVE IN MANVEL, "LOCAL 2". THANK YOU. SO HER FAMILY WANTS THEIR DAUGHTER ON VARSITY SO THAT SHE CAN CHEER WITH HER TWIN SISTER. THE DISTRICT SAYS AS A COMPROMISE, IT'S GOING TO ALLOW

MANVEL, Texas -

You could say cheerleading is in Alexia Guiton's blood. Her older sister Brittany is on the varsity team at Manvel High School and so is her twin sister Alexis.

"The reason I want her on the varsity team is because her twin sister is already on that squad and she would be a great support to her on the field," said Cynthia Guiton, Alexia's mother.

Alexia has Down syndrome, she tried out for the team but didn't make it. As a compromise the Alvin Independent School District offered her a spot on the junior varsity team, but the Guitons feel that isn't fair.

"They are not embracing disabled kids," Guiton said. "They're not giving them the same rights as all the other students."

Alvin ISD spokesperson, Daniel Combs, told Local 2 he feels the district has gone out of its way to give Alexia an opportunity to get involved.

"A priority for our district is to make sure that all of our students are able to participate in extracurricular activities regardless of their needs. We want to find a place for them," he said.

The district has some safety concerns about Alexia being on the sidelines of Friday night football games where there are thousands of people in the stands and hundreds on the field. The JV games are different, they feel.

"There's not as many people on the sidelines, so we could make sure the young lady is safe and is able to participate," Combs said. "We feel the JV program would offer a lot of opportunity for that young lady to participate."

The Guitons said it's varsity or nothing and their other daughter is evening planning to boycott.

"If you're going to accept me but not my twin, that's not okay," said Alexia Guiton. "I'm not gonna cheer with the team."

The district told Local 2 it will allow Alexis to also cheer at the JV level so the two sisters can be together. It's also working on putting together a cheer clinic for all students with special needs.

"Our hope is that we can continue to work with the family," Combs said.

"We just want her to get out and cheer and have fun," Guiton said.

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